Phil Hay has written in his post-match Athletic piece that Sam Allardyce is “angry” with Leeds defender Max Wober for diving in on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and conceding the first of two Toon penalties on Saturday afternoon.
Leeds came away from Elland Road with mixed feeling after ending the incredible game with a point apiece. A solid result given it was against a side currently sitting third in the Premier League. But it might not be enough to stay up.
Especially, with Leeds having chances to win the game. Patrick Bamford missed the chance to put Leeds 2-0 up, and moments later – Wober brought down Isak and Callum Wilson scored. A Junior Firpo handball made it 2-1.
Rasmus Kristensen’s deflected effort saw us nick a point, but it could have gone either way on Saturday. Hay claims that Allardyce is not happy with Wober for diving in – having warned his defenders to stay on their feet, all week.
“Allardyce is angry about the first penalty. Angry that, despite warning all week, Wober went off his feet and brought down Isak. But other parts of the game are mission accomplished in comparison to what he wanted,” Hay writes.
Hay says Allardyce angry with Leeds defender Wober for diving in
It was a mistake of Wober’s to dive in, with there being little chance of actually getting the ball. Junior Firpo’s slip might have panicked Wober, but Isak is going away from goal and the chances of squeezing a shot in were small.
Perhaps, Wober’s lunge might have made Isak take a touch in order to go down. But, it was a poor decision made by Wober – but with the Leeds players under enormous pressure, hardly surprising. One the Austrian will learn from.
It is a point that keeps Leeds in the mix. The Whites will be hoping Liverpool do a job on Leicester on Monday night, and then go to West Ham with the intention of a win. The Hammers may rest players after a European semi-final.
